FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

I admit there is room for debate, but I personally had UMHB 2nd, UMU 3rd, NCC 4th, and LC 5th (and Wesley 6th).

.....that ranking may vary quite a bit depending on who has the home game......

It's all splitting hairs but when Coach Leipold says UMHB and Linfield are the two toughest teams UWW played this season and that, if healthy, Linfield would have scared the heck out of him going into that quarterfinal game, I think that says something about the quality of what Linfield put out this season.  But it is what it is....

And it doesn't really matter who is #2 or #3 or #4 etc.....right?  It's all about being #1. 

[criswyly]

Count me as one of those "hair splitters"..... I watch video at 30 framers per second and see all 30 of them....

Sounds like another great season is just around the corner...

[bleedpurple]

I admit there is room for debate, but I personally had UMHB 2nd, UMU 3rd, NCC 4th, and LC 5th (and Wesley 6th).

.....that ranking may vary quite a bit depending on who has the home game......

It's all splitting hairs but when Coach Leipold says UMHB and Linfield are the two toughest teams UWW played this season and that, if healthy, Linfield would have scared the heck out of him going into that quarterfinal game, I think that says something about the quality of what Linfield put out this season.  But it is what it is....

And it doesn't really matter who is #2 or #3 or #4 etc.....right?  It's all about being #1.

I agree with this. Regardless of 2013 rankings, I believe the Cats are as close as anyone for 2014.

[D O.C.]

I was pondering all those LINFIELD DIII stats and it dawned on me I don't think besides Brett there were NFL drafts.
We had six from the 65-73 teams.
Feedback?

[badgerwarhawk]

I was pondering all those LINFIELD DIII stats and it dawned on me I don't think besides Brett there were NFL drafts.
We had six from the 65-73 teams.
Feedback?

The 1965-73 nfl drafts included 17 rounds.  Current NFL drafts are only 7 rounds.

[D O.C.]

Point taken.

[jknezek]

I was pondering all those LINFIELD DIII stats and it dawned on me I don't think besides Brett there were NFL drafts.
We had six from the 65-73 teams.
Feedback?

The 1965-73 nfl drafts included 17 rounds.  Current NFL drafts are only 7 rounds.

And the recruiting landscape for college looked nothing like it does today. Great kids slipped through cracks all over the place, or stayed home because it was the ONLY way for family to see them play, or went to places for academics instead of "the best shot to play in the pros". Facilities were much more generic in those days. Big time college football wasn't quite the same, so kids didn't congregate at only the top schools. Recruiting was regional except for a couple schools (service academies and Notre Dame come to mind). Send out game film? Really? In the 60s it would have cost a fortune to actually make and send FILM. Coaches literally had to be tipped off about players, make the trek, come see them play, etc.

In other words, making these kind of comparisons is the definition of comparing apples and oranges.

[wildcat11]

Looks like Tully Ball is officially dead as Sandberg has made his first offical hire in naming Shadle Park High School head football coach Alan Stanfield as his O.C.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/jan/06/whitworth-hands-offense-over-shadles-alan-stanfiel/

"The biggest adjustment for me will be having so much more focused time on one specific thing, and that is building the most dynamic offense in the Northwest Conference," he said.

...take a number, bud.

[madzillagd]

Well if he could somehow convince Brett Rypien to forego D1 football and come to the NWC it would be the greatest hire in history. 

[(509)Rat]

Well if he could somehow convince Brett Rypien to forego D1 football and come to the NWC it would be the greatest hire in history.

Pretty sure that's why they hired him... 

[wildcat11]

Well if he could somehow convince Brett Rypien to forego D1 football and come to the NWC it would be the greatest hire in history.

Pretty sure that's why they hired him... 

I'm already missing Whitworth's zone left, zone right, pass, punt offense.   

[Pat Coleman]

I know this conversation took place a few days ago -- I'll just say that Mount Union got a significant number of No. 4 votes but it's really hard to expect a No. 1 team who plays in the title game to drop that far overall.

[wildcat11]

I know this conversation took place a few days ago -- I'll just say that Mount Union got a significant number of No. 4 votes but it's really hard to expect a No. 1 team who plays in the title game to drop that far overall.

Completely understand why that is the case.  While UWW proved it by beating everyone in their path, I also think the top 5 teams in the country were all very close to each other.  I appreciate the fact there were voters that put Linfield at the number 3 spot.  I think that was deserving.


ADvantage Catdome: Linfield D.C., Jackson Vaughan, named Coordinator of the Year Finalist by FootballScoop.com

[George Thompson]

Why should the NWC teams play only D3 teams, even regional teams?

The theory is, as I think I understand it, is that if you beat regional teams and have a strong SOS, it helps in the seeding for the playoffs.   This year proved that is an illusion, at best. 

The whole two D3 conferences west of Minnesota or Texas are at a huge disadvantage.   Most of the colleges from Minnesota east do not need expensive travel to schedule all of their games.  Out west here, we have many NAIA and D2 teams we could play.   And heck, those NAIA and D2 teams have had much longer rivalries with NWC teams than we have with teams east of the Rockies.  Many D3 teams east of the Rockies schedule NAIA and D2 teams.    Why not us?

Linfield had two long distance overnight flights this year.   VERY expensive.   And too far away for most of our fans to attend.    Why don't we save a bunch of money and start playing Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Western Oregon,  Central Washington or Simon Frazier again?   Yes, they are not D3, but they are close by.   No overnight trips required.    No expensive flights needed.

I am sure the NWC colleges can figure out how to use those expensive travel costs for some better purpose in their football and athletic depts.

George

[bluenote]

Why should the NWC teams play only D3 teams, even regional teams?

I'd prefer to stay on the normal schedule....but I do like your one idea where you said......when the 8 final teams get to the quarterfinals....they flip a coin for home field quarters and semis games....